To read this novel while being stuck in a quarantine myself had both its pros and cons. I would say that some of the descriptions of the changing attitudes of humans, our inclination to ignore the warning signs, the initial rebuke and the consequent panic followed by the collective acceptance and resignation was something that drew me in. Especially, the indomitable spirit of humanity to fight against all odds, almost laughable and puny yet so immensely stirring, as has been portrayed here through several individual examples, chief out of which we remember Tarrou. The only downsides of reading such a 'chronicle' during a pandemic is the possibility of feeling existential crisis. Yet personally, I find the book vividly clinging to life despite its apparent aloofness. Quite a smooth read, lucid language style and flows effortlessly like a diary.